PureWow
From his self-titled late-night talk show to his major emcee gigs, Jimmy Kimmel is, by far, one of the biggest names on TV. And this year, he’s hosting the 2023 Oscars ceremony, marking his third time.
In addition to his hosting duties, Kimmel has been busy juggling his career with marriage and fatherhood. So, who is Jimmy Kimmel’s wife? And how long have they been together? Keep scrolling for details.
Kimmel is married to Molly McNearney, the co-head writer and executive producer of Jimmy Kimmel Live. The 43-year-old Missouri native has also worked as a writer for the Oscars, the Emmys and the 2012 White House Correspondents' Association Dinner. (Fun fact: McNearney will executive produce this year’s ceremony on March 12, where Kimmel will host.)
If McNearney looks vaguely familiar, that’s probably because she’s appeared on her husband’s show on a few occasions. Additionally, she made cameos in Murder Mystery, Dumplin' and The Morning Show.
McNearney first met Kimmel when she was hired on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Although their first meeting wasn’t exactly a pleasant one, things took a turn for the better after she had worked there for six years.
"When I first met him, he insulted me," McNearney told Glamour. "The executive producer brought me into his office and said, 'This is Molly; she's my new assistant.' Jimmy barely looked up from his desk until my EP said, 'She competes in triathlons,' and then Jimmy looked up at me and said, 'That is really stupid! What a waste of time.' That was the first and only thing he probably said to me the entire first year of working there."
When asked if she ever thought about dating him, she said, “I was in a relationship and he was in a relationship, so it never occurred to me. And that's workplace 101. You don't date your boss.”
Well, fast-forward to 2010, and her boss had invited her to have a home-cooked meal. She said, “We really liked each other as friends, and then it just kind of turned. He cooked for me, and that was it. It sealed the deal.”
After dating for nearly three years, Kimmel asked McNearney to marry him while they were vacationing at South Africa’s Kruger National Park. The pair kept details of their engagement under wraps, but it comes as no surprise, given that they’ve been relatively private about their relationship
McNearney and Kimmel tied the knot in July 2013 in California. Their star-studded guest list included Jennifer Aniston, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Emily Blunt, John Krasinski and Kristen Bell. And get this: McNearney pranked Kimmel before they exchanged vows.
When it was time for the bride to walk down the aisle, the groom was shocked to see Empire star Gabourey Sidibe in a wedding gown. While speaking with Elle, she said, “I thought someone was going to jump me, I was so afraid that someone was going to run and attack me like 'No! Molly's day!'” Fortunately, McNearney and Sidibe managed to pull off their prank.
Kimmel and McNearney currently share two children, who you might've seen on Kimmel’s show. Their daughter, Jane, was born in July 2014, and their son, William "Billy" John, was born in April 2017.
Kimmel also has two children from his previous marriage to Gina Maddy. Katie Kimmel (29) is a ceramic artist based in Los Angeles, and Kevin Kimmel (27) has worked in the sound department for shows like Tosh.0, Big Brother and Last Comic Standing.
Want all the latest entertainment news sent right to your inbox? Click here.